(Lincoln)-Mosquitos and ticks continue to invade Nebraska during summer months. And with Fur Trade Days coming up in Chadron, people should be aware of the presence of the pesky critters. Especially when going to the buckskinner’s rendezvous or staying out later at night to partake in the activities. University of Nebraska-Lincoln assistant professor of entomology, Roberto Cortinas, says mosquito numbers are up this year.

Compared to last year, Cortinas said we are seeing more mosquito numbers and more nuisance mosquitoes. We are also seeing more mosquitoes which transmit the West Nile virus. He said the rain is definitely having an impact.

Cortinas recommends creating a barrier to prevent mosquito and tick bites. You can try to create a barrier by not going places with a lot of ticks. Using physical barriers such as long pants and long sleeve shirts don’t allow ticks to attach to you. He also recommends using a repellent with DEET, which repels ticks and mosquitoes.

Cortinas says Nebraskans need to be aware of the threat of West Nile being carried by mosquitos.

According to Cortinas, Nebraska is typically in top 5 for cases of West Nile. He says it is a disease of the Great Plains now, even though it started in New York, and if people look at the numbers, he says the state definitely has a lot of cases of West Nile.

Cortinas encourages people to stay away from standing water during the times of the day when mosquitos are most likely to be out, like dawn and dusk. To listen to the full interview with Cortinas, visit Ag Almanac dot U-N-L dot E-D-U.